Newsom has called for a November special election to let voters decide on a new congressional map designed to flip up to five Republican-held seats.

If Newsom's redistricting ballot initiative succeeds, many in Doug LaMalfa's congressional district could suddenly find themselves represented by a Democrat for the first time.

Former President Barack Obama has waded into states’ efforts at rare mid-decade redistricting efforts, saying he agrees with California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s response to alter his state’s congressional maps, in the way of Texas redistricting efforts promoted by President Donald Trump aimed at shoring up Republicans’ position in next year’s elections.